Thanks to Valvoline and Hendrick Motorsports, I can strip down and rebuild a powerhouse V8 engine. I can do it less than an hour. And, it’ll start up when I’m done. All I need is a master mechanic to help me and thousands of dollars worth of precision tools. But, beyond that, I’m ready for the NASCAR pits.
For the recent rollout of classic, rebuilt pickup trucks designed by Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Valvoline brought automotive journalists together at Hendrick Motorsports headquarters and their engine workshop in Charlotte.
Amidst the multiple Sprint Cup championship banners hanging overhead, the scribblers broke into teams and proceeded to assemble a V8 engine from its assorted parts into a fully functioning, fueled power plant that would start on command. They raced against the clock with the best overall time compiled once both engines were complete.
This reporter’s team obviously won, and it’s solely due to my cool head, deft hands and natural mechanical acumen — and maybe the other nine people on my team
You can catch some insider’s views of the engine lab below:
Valvoline Engine Building at Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports and Valvoline offered journalists a chance to learn engine construction and maintenance.
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Championship Banners
Between Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and others, Hendrick Motorsports has dominated recent Sprint Cup results.
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Parts Table
Before assembling an engine against the clock, students must review the collection of carefully laid-out parts.
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Valvoline Additions
Valvoline products blend with other manufacturer's contributions to create the complete V8 power plant.
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Stripped Piston Rods
The engine casing has its piston rods already installed before the crankshaft is lowered into position early in the process.
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Engine Casing
The basic, sealed engine block and casing waits for students to begin complete engine assembly.
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Performance Testing Clock
The ever-present clock tracks the progress of engine building students to see how fast their work comes together.
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Finished Project
Once assembled, the compelte V8 engine can be fueled and started. This winning entrant ran long and loud in the workshop.
